Name : Ave Angela Michelle Sudoyo

Student number : 18202244049

Class :P

Why Students Should Not Use Their Mobile Phones in The Classroom

Mobile phones are inseparable technology in most students’ life. Mobile phones make
it easier for students to connect with people, seek help for their assignments, and entertain
themselves. As a result, students use their mobile phones almost constantly. Although it
seems like mobile phones are beneficial and students cannot be separated from their mobile
phones, some teachers ban the use of mobile phone in the class. Educators still debate
whether banning mobile phones in the class will make learning activities more effective.
Although some educators oppose banning mobile phones in the class, there is some evidence
which shows that banning mobile phones in the class will bring positive impacts.

Opponents claim that mobile phones help students to find more information about the
material taught during the class so that their academic achievements will increase. One study
from London School of Economics found that following a ban on phone use, students’ test
scores improve by 6.41% of a standard deviation (Beland & Murphy, 2015). Banning mobile
phones improves academic achievements for the low-achieving students the most and has no
significant impact on high achievers. It is because the low-achieving students are more likely
to be distracted by mobile phones while high achievers are still focus. Banning mobile
phones can be a way to reduce inequality about students’ abilities.

Opponents also claim that mobile phones help students to access the material easily in
the classroom. Students can access digital textbooks easily or find deeper information about
the material by using the internet. However, a study found that college students retained less
knowledge when allowed to use or possess a cell phone during lectures. During the
experiment, students who are not allowed access to a cell phone tested better than those who
had access to cell phones (Lee, Sungyeon & Kim, Myeong & Mcdonough, Ian & Mendoza,
Jessica & Kim, Minsung, 2017). Students can use their mobile phones to do other activities
instead of accessing the material given by the teacher. Unfortunately, it will be hard for the
teacher to make sure that each student accesses the material by using the mobile phone during
the lecture.

The final argument from the opponents is that students’ parents can easily contact
their children (students) in emergency situation if students bring their mobile phones in the
class. However, this can interrupt the learning process in the class. There is nothing worse
than someone’s cell phone ringing in the middle of something important. Students need to
turn on their notification to see the emergency message. The sound from their mobile phones’
notification can cause the distraction. End, Worthman, Mathews, and Wetterau (2010) have
revealed in their experimental studies that the students watching an educational video become
distracted when a mobile phone rings and their learning performance is adversely affected.
Parents can contact the school’s office or the teacher if they need to contact their children in
emergency situation. Parents also can go to the school if it is possible.
 It should be evident that the arguments against banning mobile phones in the class are
not true. On the other hand, researches show that banning mobile phones in the class provide
a better learning environment because it reduces the distraction and the inequality about
students’ abilities. In addition, it also reduces the possibility for students to cheat. Students
can take a picture of their friend’s work and then copy it or pass it around. Therefore, in my
point of view, the use of mobile phone in the class should be banned.

References

Beland, L.P. & Murphy, R. (2015). CEP Discussion Paper No 1350: Ill Communication:
Technology, Distraction & Student Performance. Centre for Economic Performance, London
School of Economics and Political Science.

Lee, Seungyon; Kim, Myeong W.; McDonough, Ian M.; Mendoza, Jessica S.; Kim, Min
Sung (2017). The Effect of Cell Phone Use and Emotion-regulation Style on College
Students’ Learning. Applied Cognitive Psychology.

End, C. M., Worthman, S., Matthews, M. B., & Wetterau, K. (2010). Costly cell phones: The
impact of cell phone rings on academic performance. Teaching of Psychology.